Collapsible clothes dryer



R. D. RAYNOR COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES DRYER Dec. 29, 1964 Filed Aug. 27, 19623 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ROBERT D. RAYNOR FIG. 2

54 BY MZQ/ ATTORNEY FIG. 5

Dec. 29, 1964 R. D. RAYNOR COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES DRYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 27, 1962 FIG.7.

INVENTOR. ROBERT D. RAYNOR "M ATTORNEY Filed Aug. 27, 1962 R. D. RAYNOR3,163,297

COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES DRYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG; I l

INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. RAYNOR ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofitice 3,153,297Patented Dec. 29,1964

COLLAPSlBLE CLOTHES DRYER Robert D. Raynor, 7816'Corhin, Rese'da,Caiifi' 7 Filed Aug. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 219,398' 7 Claims. (Cl; 211-178)Generally speaking, the 'present invention comprises a controllablyexpandable and collapsible rack and, more particularly, in one specificpreferred form of the invention, comprises a controllably expandable andcollapsible clothes hanging rack from which'a plurality of freshlywashed clothes may be supported or'hung to allow ambient atmospheretohavefree access thereto for the purpose of drying the clothes. Ofcourse, this may also apply to clothes which have-been cleaned by acleaning of the present invention lies in the fact that it includes twoseparate and individually operable slidable collars or rings, each oneof which is independently slidable and adapted to erect or collapseone-half of all of the expandable elements of the rack; This makes itpossible to erect or collapse the expandable elements of the rack in twodistinct steps, thus greatly reducing the force which must be applied toeach of said slidable collars or rings during the rack-expanding orrack-collapsing operation This effective splitting of the openingoperation and the closing operation into two parts is anextremely'impontant feature of the present invention which may, as aresult of this operative feature, be termeda double action expandableand collapsible rack.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the novel controllably expandableand collapsible clothes hanging-rack of the present invention is adaptedfor outdoor or indoor use by being provided with appropriate supporting.base means, or the like, for effective engagementtwith respect toanunderlying supporting surfacesuchas a horizontal ground surface(which'is intended to mean an outdoor ground surface whether of earth,turf, concrete, asphalt, or the like, and which is also intended to meanan indoor ground surface such as a floor of any suitable compositionWithin a house, apartment, building, or any other structure). Theinvention itself lies primarily in the novel collapsible and expandablestructure of the rack irrespeu tive of thetype of groundsur-face-engageable supporting base-means. Y

It' is anobject of the present invention to provide a novel controllablyexpandable. and collapsible rack (primarily intended for clothes hanginguse, although not specifically limited thereto) which comprises alongitudinal, normally upright support member or standard provided witha lower portion (usually the bottom end) adapted tobe rigidly supportedrelative to an auxiliary supporting means (usually a ground surfacewhether of an outdoor type or an indoor type comprising a floor or thelike) in a firm, stable relationship with respect to said auxiliarysupporting means.

The normally upright supporting member or standard is pivotally providedwith a plurality (usually a first and second set of two each) oflongitudinal rigid fulcrum members each having a pivotal fulcrumconnection means spaced from the pivotal connection of the fulcrummember with respect to the upright support member or standard by a givendistance'equ'al in the case of each of said fulcrum members.

The preferred embodiment of the invention may also include fifstandsecond setsof lever members (usually with two levermembers to each set)having inner pivotal connection ends, outer linkageends, andintermediate fulcrum connection means-engageable portions, and 'may alsobe provided with first andsecond slidable 'collaror ring means pivotallyconnected to the inner pivotal con: nection ends of the correspondingmembers of the'corresponding set ofsaid lever'members. In other words,said first slidable collar or ring means is connectedto the innerpivotal-connection ends ofsaid first'set-of lever members and saidsecondslidable collar or ring means is connected to said inner pivotalconnection ends of said second set of lever members, with said first andsecond slidablecollaror ring means being slidably m'ountedon anintermediate portion of said vertically upright' support member orstandard for -reciprocation between the maximum limits of thelongitudinally spaced-apart relationship of said slidable collars orring .means when the rack is in fully collapsed relationship and theclosely vertically adjacent central positions of said slidable collarsor ring means on said vertical upright support member or standard whensaid .rack is' in fully expandedreflationship.

This preferred form of the invention may also include contr ollablyreleasably retaining means for retaining said first andsecond slidablecollar orring means in said vertically adjacent centrally positionedrelationship until controllably released to allow collapsing of theentire rack. In the preferred vform ofthe invention, one-half of theplurality of fulcrum members (usually the two fulcrum members of eithersaid first orsecond set thereof) have their pivotal fulcrum connectionmeans at the outer ends thereof pivotally connected to the intermediatefulcrum connection means-engageable portion of the correspondinglevertmemb'er-s (usuallythecorresponding two lever members of thecorresponding one of said "first and second sets thereof). Also, in saidpreferred form of the invention the other half of said plurality offulcrum members (usually the two fulcrum members of the other set ofsaid fulcrum members). have the pivotalconnection fulcrum meansat'theouter'ends thereof connected to the intermediate fulcrumconnection means-engageable portions ofthe corresponding ones of theremaining lever members (usually the two lever members of the remainingset of said lever members) on-the opposite side of said upright verticalsupport member or standard from the connections of said first-mentionedpivotal-connectionfulcrum means and said first-mentioned intermediatefulcrum connection means-engageable portions of said J first-mentionedset ofv fulcrum means and. said first-mena t-ioned set of said levermembers Whereby'forcible slidable reciprocation of one of said tWo'slidable collar or ring means in an upward. direction alongsaid uprightvertical support member or standard away from the other one of saidcollar or fring means will cause pivotal and in.- ward swinging andeffective collapsing movement of the corresponding. set of said lever--members (one of a said two sets thereof) in a similar rotative angularsense, and whereby oppositely directed downward slidable move.- ment ofthe other one of said two slidable collaror ring means along saidupright supp'ortmember or standard and away from said first-mentionedcollar or ringmeans will cause pivotal upward and inward swingingand-effective collapsing .movement of the other corresponding-set ofsaid pivotal lever members in a similar rotative angular.

sense opposite to said first-mentioned 'rotative angular sense of saidfirst-mentioned set of pivotal lever members.

Of course, it should be understood that opposite reciprocation of saidcollars .or rings toward each other will reverse the abovedescribedlever-swinging ments and will effectively expand the rack.Also,in the preferred form of the invention, the rack may include firstand second tensilemem'ber support bars adapted to be provided with aplurality of tensile members movenected to the corresponding outerlinkage ends'of a pair of lever members comprising corresponding similarmembers of dilferent ones of said two sets of lever members wherebysimilar ends of each of said tensile member support bars will beconnected to corresponding outer linkage ends of different onesio-f thesame set of said lever members and whereby opposite ends of said tensilemember support bars will be connected to different but correspondingones of the two different sets of said lever members positioned onopposite sides of said upright support member or standard to positionsaid tensile member support bars in downwardly directed relationshipwhen the rack is in collapsed relationship and to lift, space,andsubstantially horizontally position said first and second tensile membersupport bars when said rack is in fully expanded relationship. 1 j

It is a further object of the present inventionto'provide a novelcontrollably expandable and collapsible rack (primarily intended for.clothes airing or drying use,

although not specifically so limited) wherein the upright verticalsupport member or standard is of substantially cylindrical, hollow,tubular configuration and wherein the slidable collars or ringsar'ecorrespondingly shaped andsized.

It is a further object of the present invention to pr o vvide a novelcontrollably expandable and collapsible rack of the character referredto above wherein the lever members fulcrum, andtensile'mem'ber supportbars are of hollow configuration for providing ahigh strength to-weightratio for the entire rack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide novelauxiliary supporting means or supporting base means for rigidly mountingthe entire device with respect to an underlying substantially horizontalground surface (which shall also mean floor surface) I It is a furtherobject of the presentinvention to pro- 'vide a novel rack of thecharacter set forth'in the preceding object, wherein said supportingbase means includes a telescopic engagingrneans adapted to be rigidlypositioned ina stable manner with respectlto thejunderlyingsubstantially horizontal ground surface (which shall also mean floorsurface). 7 g 7 It is a further object to provide a novel rack of thecharacter set forth in the preceding object, wherein the telescopicengaging means is rigidly embedded within the horizontal ground surfaceand telescopically engages the lower end of the upright vertical supportmember or standard of the rack for effectively mounting same.

It is a further object to provide a novelflrack of the characterreferred to in the third preceding object where-f in said supportingmeans comprisesa controllably collapsible basemeans adapted to beconnected to said upright vertical support member or standard adjacentthe bottom thereof and having lateral extension portions adapted to liein a substantially horizontal plane .for qstable engagement with saidsubstantially horizontal underlying ground or floor surface to supportthe entire rack in a stable manner anywhere, although this arrange,-ment is particularly advantageous indoors where the For the purpose ofclarifying the nature of the present invention, one basic form of theinvention and several exemplarymo'difications of the supporting basemeans are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying three sheets ofdrawings and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIGURE 1 is a reduced-size perspective view showing one exemplary formof the invention in fully expanded position and supported by oneparticular type of supporting base means or ground surface couplingmeans above a ground surface comprising a fragmentan'ly shown surface ofgrass or turf.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partlyin section, illustrating a modification of the supporting base meansshown .in FIGURE 1.

This form is intended primarily for, outdoor use, although notspecifically so limited. 7

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating anothermodification of the supporting base means I intended primarily forindoor use, although not specifically so limited.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the two oppositelypositioned connection ends of each of the first andrsecondj tensilemember support bars, taken in the direction of the arrow 4 of FIGURE 1and illus trates .the connection thereto of the corresponding outerlinkage end of thecorresponding one ofthe two sets of lever members; 'Itshould "be clearly understood that each of the other three similarstructures comprising the outer three connection ends of the first andsecond tensile member support bars, and the connection thereof .to thecorresponding three outer linkage ends of the other three lever membersis substantially identical in construction and, therefore, this singleview is exemplaryof all.

i 'Itshould be noted that certain portions of the structure device maybe completely stored away when not in use;

if desired.

It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide a novel rackof the character set forthin the preceding object, wherein said lateralextension portions of the collapsible base means are controllablycollapsible or foldable into av compactv configuration for convenientstorage and portability.

Further objects are'implicit inthe detailed description which followsand which is tobe considered as exemplary and not limiting, and saidobjects will be apparent to persubstantially behind the plane of theview are not shown for reasons of drawing simplificationand clarity.

FIGURE Sis an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in sect-ion and partlyin elevation, of the pivotal connection of the fulcrum member to thelower member on line 55 of FIGURE 1 with certain structural portionssubstantially behind the planeof the view being removed for. reasons ofdrawing simplification and clarity.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, partly broken:

away perspective view illustrating the detail of one: exemplarystructure for. 'pivotally connecting the four longitudinal rigid.fulcrum members .(comprising first and second sets of two fulcrummembers each) with respect. to thenormally upright Vertical supportmember or.' standard. .This view also illustrates the slidable con--nection of the inner pivotal connection ends of the two lever members ofeach of the two different sets thereof? to the corresponding first orsecondring orcollar meanIs= I: should be understood that the centerportion of the+ vertical upright support member .or standard (which is:shown in phantom) is broken away and removed from for rack-opening andrack-closing reciprocation.

this view for space conservationreas'ons.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, partly broken-away ele'- vation view furtherillustrating the means for immobilizing the attachment bracket shown inpart at the top of I FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly insection, of the two slidable collars or rings when in the verticallyadjacent centrally positioned locked relationship shown in FIGURE 1which maintains the rack in fully expanded relationship. 'I'hisviewillustrates one specific exemplaryform of the retainingmeansfor holdingthe slidable collars or rings in said relationship.

FIGURE 9 is apreduced-sized elevational view of the entire rack when infully collapsed relationship with the collopsed tensile member supportbars lying slightly outwardly angularly spaced relativeto the upper endof'the vertical support member or standard as allowed by the linkagesconnecting the connection ends thereof to the linkage ends of thecorresponding lever members. Ac-

tually, said upwardly projecting angularly spaced connection ends of thetensile member support bars may be collapsed even further inwardly ifdesired for storage in an extremely-small space volume configuration.

FIGURE is a larger scale top plan View of FIGURE 9. It should berealized, as pointed out in connection with FIGURE 9, that the tensilemember support bars can be easily collapsed even further inwardly fromthe at rest position shown in FIGURE 10 if desired. I

FIGURE 11 is an elevational view, generally similar to FIGURE 1, butshows the rack in 'a'partially collapsed relationship between the. fullyexpanded relationship shown in FIGURE 1 and the fully collapsed, atrest,

relationship shown in FIGURES 9 and '10.

Referring to the figures forexemplary purposes, oneillustrativeembodiment of the invention takes a typical form wherein itcomprises a longitudinal, normally upright support member orstandard,indicated generally by the reference numeral 21, which has alowerportion or bottom end 22 adapted to be rigidly supported in a firm,stable relationship with respect to an underlying ground surface,indicated generally by the r'eference numeral'23,

and which in the specific example illustrated in FIGURE 1 The normallyupright or vertical support member or standard 21, in thespecificexampleillustrated, is of substantially cylindrical, hollow,tubular configuration and comprises the hollow cylindrical tube 25.-However, the invention is not specifically so limited. I

In the exemplary formillustrated, the normally upright vertical supportmember or standard 21 is effectively pivotally provided withapluralityof longitudinalrigid fulcrum members in several sets-thereof,with each fulcrum member having a pivotal fulcrum'connection meansspaced from the pivotal connection ofsaid fulcrum memher with respectto=the upright support member or standard 21 by a given distance which,in the preferred form of the invention, is equal for each'of saidfulcrum members. V '1 Y I,

In the exemplary form illustrated, -s'aid fulcrum members are four, innumber and are designated generally by the reference numerals 26, 27, 28and '29, respectively.

It should be noted that, in the illustrated, the fulcrum memberszfi and27 may be saidtocomp'rise a first 'set of said fulcrum members while themembers 28' and 29may be said to comprise a second set of said fulcrummembers. Furthermore, it should be note'd that file disposition of saidfirst and second setsof ful crum members is such that the first set offulcrum members 26 and 27 may be saidito b e efiectively positioned'onthe opposite side of said ver ticallupright support member or standardfromsaid second set er; fulcrum members 28 and 2.9.

In the specific exampleillustrated, the pivotal connection of the innerends of thefour fulcrum members 26, f

27, 28 and 29 with respeet to the normally-upright support member orstandard 21 is provided by way of novel 7 attachment bracket means,generally designated by the ,reference numeral 31, which is fixedly;attached to the tubularmember 25 coniprising'theupright support memheror standard 21- by top and bottom retainers comprising a thecircumferential enlargement 32 and the retaining cotter pin 33. Thecircumferential enlargement 32 lies below the cylindrical sleeve portion34 of the attachment bracket 31 and supports same, while thecotterjpin33 lies through a hole 35 positioned immediately above the sleeve 34 andrestrains it against upward movement. However, this is exemplary only,and various other means for mounting the attachment bracket means 31 onthe cylindrical member 25 of the uprightjsupport standard 21 maybeemployed.

- connected by effective pivot pin means 72 to thebifurcated In thespecific example illustrated the attachment bracket means 31 is providedwith a plurality (in the example illustrated, four) bifurcated yokeportions 36 each angularly spaced around the longitudinal vertical axis.of the upright support standard 21 and each beingrdirected ofiset from,a corresponding part of. saidtwo angularly displaced planes 37.

Each of the bifurcated yoke portions 36 has effective pivot pin means38, as for example threaded fastener means, carried laterallytherebetween and pivotally mounting a corresponding one of the fourpivotal connection ends '39, 41,42 and 43 of the corresponding ones ofsaid fulcrum members. 26, 27; 28. and 29.

The pivotal fulcrum connection means of the four fulcrum members. 26,27, 28 and 29 are indicated generally by the corresponding referencenumerals 44, 45, 46 and 47 and are similar "to each other so that onlyone need be shown in detail, as illustrated inFIGURE 5.

These pivotal fulcrum connection means will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter.

It should also be noted that'the preferredform of the invention includesfirst and second separately operable sets of lever members, in the formillustrated eachset comprising two lever members, having inner pivotalconnection. ends, outer linkage ends, andintermediate. fulcrumiconnection means-.engageable portions.

In the specific exemplary form illustrated, the four lever members areindicated generally by the reference nu merals 48, 49, 5ljand 52. In theformlillustrated, the two lever members 48' and 49 may be said tocomprise the lever members of a first set of levers, while the:two levermembers 51 and 52 may be said to comprise the lever members of a secondset thereof.

The intermediate fulcrum connection means-engageable portions of thefour levers, 48 and 49 of the first set of levers and' 51 and 52 ofthesecond set of levers, are generally designated by thereference-numerals 53 in the case of thelever 48, 54 in the case of thelever 4?, 55 in the case of the lever 51, 'and 56 in the case of thelever 52, and each of these intermediate fulcrum connectionmeansengageable portions is pivotally connected-to the correspondingpivotal fulcrum'connection means 44, 45,46

or 47, respectively, by corresponding etfective pivot pin means 57,58,5? and 61, which, in the example illustrated, comprise threadedfastener means, although not specifically so limited. 7

Each of the four lever members 48 and 49 of the first set and 51 and52iof the second set has an inner pivotal connection end '62, 63, 64 or65, respectively, which is effe ctiyely pivotally attached with respectto corresponding first and second slidable collar or ring means 66,0r67,respectively, by corresponding pairs of outwardly projecting. pivotalattachment bifurcated yoke portions designated by the reference 'numeral68 in the case of the first slidable collar or ring means-.66, and bythe referenceinume'ral 69 in the case of the second slidable collarorringmeans 67.

- Theinner ends 62 and 63 of the pivotal'leve'rfmembers I 48 and 49 ofthe first set thereof are pivotally connected to thegbifurcated yokeportions 6 8 by thetwo effective pivot pin means 71, while the innerends 64 and 65 of the lever yoke portions 69 thus pivotally mountingallfour of the lever members for pivotal movement aroundthe effective pivotpin means 7l and 72 which, in the exampleillus- .and 10.

' member means 94 and 95 to a lower extreme position.

trated, are shown as comprising threaded fastener means, although notspecifically so limited. 7

Each of the slidable collar or ring means 66 and 67 is slidably mountedon-the exterior of the tubular, member '25 comprising the uprightsupport standard 21 for vertical reciprocation in opposite directions ina first sense where -they move away from each other for collapsing theentire in FIGURES 9 and 10 through an intermediate position such as thatshown in FIGURE 11 into a fully expanded relationship such as shown inFIGURES 1 and 8, where 'the upper and lower slidable ring means 66and-67 may be retained by the controllably releasable retaining means,indicated generally at 73 and 74.

In the example illustrated, each'of said retaining means 73 and 74comprises a resilient cam-shaped, normally. 7 outwardly projectingspring member75'and '76, respectively, fastened with respect to thetubular member comprising the verticalupright support standard '21' at21 fixed fastening location, as indicated at 77 for illustrative,purposes in connection with the upper retaining meansConversely,-'downwardslidable movement of theother ring or collar means67 the position shown in FIG- URE 1, through the intermediate positionshown in FIG- URE .11 into the fully collapsed at rest position shown inFIGURES 9. and '10, correspondingly causes arcuate upward and inwardmovement of the'outer linkage ends 83 and 84 of the other two levermembers 51 and 52 of the other set of said'lever members, thus,correspondingly elevating the adjacent connection ends 92 and 93 of thefirst and second tensile member support bars 94 and 95.

7 These opposed pivotal movements just described are brought about'bytheoppositely directed separating slidable movement-of the first andsecond ring or collar means 66 and 67 andthe cooperation of thecorresponding first .set of pivotal connectioniulcrum means 44 and 45and the second setsof pivotal connection fulcrum means 46 -and'47 withrespect to the corresponding first, and

and 51-52, respectively.

The Y above described'action causes thetwo tensile member support bars94 and 95t0 assume substantially 73, a similar but inverted arrangementbeing employed for the lower retaining means 74, so that each of theresilient cam-shaped'spring members '75 and 76 normally camming actionof the corresponding slidable collar or responds :to the fullyexpandedrelationship of the rack shown in FIGURE 1. This position willbe maintained until the retaining springs 75 and 76 are forciblymanually deflected inwardly through the corresponding slots 78 and 79 soas to be out of the path of upward or downward travel, respectively,of'the corresponding rings 66 and 67 as they are slidably separated fromthe closed relationship shown in FIGURES -1 and 8, through theintermediate partially collapsed relationship shown in FIGURE 151, intothe fully collapsed relationship shown inFIGURES 9 Each of the fourlever members 48,; 49, 51 and has a 7 corresponding outer linkage end,indicated at 81 and- 82 'in'the case of the -two lever members 48, and49 of the first set of said lever members, and indicated at 8 3 and 84in the case of the two lever members'51 and 52 of the second set oflever members. 7 v 7 These outer linkage ends are providedwithcorresponding linkage means 85, 86, 87 andj88, respectively, forconnection tocorresponding connection ends 89, 91, 92, aud 93,respectively, of the first and second tensile member support bars,generally designated by the reference numerals 94 and 95, respectively.

projects outwardly until such time as it is depressed by the erectpositions-'as'shown in FIGURES 9 and10 (although they are shown'i'n: anat rest, slightly outwardly diverging relationship which-can be furthercollapsed), and causes the plurality of tensile members orrclotheslines96 connected between the'first and second tensile member support bars 94and 95 at a-pluralityof points spaced therealong, to hang downwardly in'even, non-tangling loops such that the entire rack is adapted to bequickly and tarily in FIGURES, where eachsof the tensile members orclotheslines 96 is stretched in taut, parallel relationship between thetwo tensile member support bars 94 and 95.

The arrangementis 'suchfthatonly two sliding engage- -ments are.provided inthe entire, apparatus and these comprise the separatelyoperable 'slidingengagements of the upper slidable collar .or ringsmeans66 and the lower In the-example, illustrated, the linkage means 85,86,87 I and 88 comprise effectively pivotally interconnected eye bolts, andnuts. However, various otherequivalent linkage means may be employed inlieutthere'of.

Th'e'arrangement is such that when the first ring or collar means 66isslidably moved upwardly from the "slidable collar or'ring means 67.with respect to the cylindrical tube 25 which forms the verticalupright support.

member of standard indicated generally. at 21.. ,All other connectionsof-the movable elements of the apparatus are efiectively pivotalconnections. This contributes greatly to the ease of manual operation'ofthe device in either the expanding or collapsing movement since thiseffectively minimizes the force required to be applied to either of thecollar or ring means during the rack-expanding, or rack-collapsingoperation. 7 7

Furthermore, it should be clearly noted that each of "the collar orringmeans 66 and 67 is independently slidably moved and erects orcollapses-one-half of the ex-; pandable elements of the rack at a time,thus effectively :greatly reducing the required force which must be applied to each of said slidable collar or ring means 66 or 67 during therack-expanding or rack-collapsing operation. a a V V a a Indeed,these'two features-that is,,the minimization of sliding friction duringany particular operation, and the breaking of the expanding orcollapsing operation into 'two steps eachare highly advantageous in thatthey reduce the-amount of force required to be applied to either of theslidable collar or ring means 66 or 67 to a low value well within thestrength capabilities ofv the average position shown in FIGURE 1 throughthe intermediateposition shown in FIGURE 11 toward the fully collapsedposition shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, the outer linkage ing verticalplanes, thus correspondingly moving the connection ends 89 and 91 of thefirst and second tensile 3 ends 81 and 82 of the first setof levermembers 48 and 49 swing arcuately downwardly and inwardlyincorrespondstrength capabilities of the averagewoman.

,womanQ This is greatly superior to prior art arrangements wheremultiple slidingelements are involved during a single erectingflorexpanding operation, which thus requires the application of a verysubstantial amount of force to the apparatus during the expandingoperation, which is often virtually at the'limit'of, or beyond, the

a The supporting means generally designated at 24 in FIGURE 1 may besaid to comprise supporting base means including telescopic engagingmeans, indicated generally at 97,'comprising, in this exemplary form ofthe invention, the recess-defining portion or member 98 at the bottom ofthe hollow, cylindrical, tubular support standard 21 which receivedtherein the upper end 99 of a projection-defining member 101, which hasits lower pointed end 102 firmly buried in and supported in the groundsurface 23. This provides a firm support forthe support standard 21 andthe entire rack and yet one which is ofa readily removable nature whendesired.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a slight modification of the supporting means orsupporting base means, which is designated by the reference numeral-24A"in this view In this form of the invention, said supporting basemeans24A includes the telescopic engaging means 97A which includes therecess-defining member 98A which, in this case, is partially buried inand imbedded in the ground surface 23A which, in this exemplary form, isshown as comprising concrete, although not specifically so limited. Inthis modification the recess-defining member 98A is upwardly open andreceives the bottomend portion 22A of the upright support standard 21A,which corresponds to the upright vertical standard 21 of FIGURE 1, toprovide a firm support. Itshould also be noted that a stop collar 103 isfastened by. suitable fastening means 104; to the upright verticalsupport standard 21A at a position spaced above the bottom' end 22Athereof so as to come into abuttin'gcontactwith-the'open end of therecessdefining member 98A-when in the engaged relationship showninFIGURE 2; This provides a firm, rigid mounting for the support standard21A, and the rack adapted to be carried thereabove, and yet one which isof a readily removable nature. a

FIGURE 3-illustra-tes-a further modification of the supporting means orsupporting base means which is designated, in this case, by thereference numeral 245 and which is shown as comprising a base member104' which is firmly fastened to the bottom end 22B of the uprightvertical support standard 21B and which has the four bifurcated yokeportions 105 which are pivotally attached by eifective 'pivot pin means106, as for example threaded fasteners, to the inner ends of fourlateral extension portions or members 107 and which have intermediateportions pivotally connected by effective pivot pin means 108, as forexample threaded fasteners, to the four fulcrum members 109.

The four fulcrum members 109 have inner ends pivotally connected byeffective pivot pin means 110, as for example threaded fastener means,to another set of four bifurcated yoke portions 111 of an attachmentbracket 112 which is connected to a slidable ring 113 slidably mountedon the lower portion of the vertical upright support standard 21B.

This structure is generally similar in principle and operation to eitherof the previously described slidable collar or ring means 66 or 67 andoperates in a manner such that upwardly slidable movement of theslidable ring 113 and the attachment bracket 112 after manual depressionof the retaining spring 114 will cause each of the four lateralextension portions 107 to fold upwardly in the directions indicated bythe broken line arrows 115 so as to lie very close to the uprightsupport standard 21B in a substantially fully collapsed relationshipgenerally similar to the collapsed relationship of the rack-membersshown in FIGURES 9 and and described in detail hereinbefore. On theother hand, the ring 113 and the attachment bracket 112 may be slidablymoved downwardly over the cam-shaped retaining spring 114 into aretained position such as is shown in FIGURE 3 which will have theeffect of firmly and rigidly holding the four lateral extension portions107 in the projecting horizontal planar relationship shown in FIGURE 3for supported engagement with an underlying ground surface whereby tohold the upright support standard 21B in the upright position shown andin a very stable manner.

This form of the supporting base means is primarily intended for indooruse where the entire device is to be completely stored away between useperiods, although it maybe used under other circumstances and may evenbe used outdoors if desired.

' Numerous modifications and variations exist within the broad scope andbasic teachings of the present invention, and all of theseare intendedto be included herein as fully as if they were described and illustratedin detail. The figures and the specificdescriptionv thereof set forth inthis application are for the purpose of illustrating only andare not tobe construed as limiting the pres'entinvention to the percise anddetailed structure.

shown in the figures and specifically described .herein. Rather, thereal invention is intended to include any and all substantiallyequivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventiveconcept of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is: v

L'An extensible and collapsible clothes hanging rack, comprising: acentral support standard, adapted to be mounted in a vertical position,two pairs of elongated rigid fulcrum members pivotally connected attheir inner ends to opposite sides of said support standard at 'a fixedposition near its upper end, two pairs of elongated lever memberspositioned on opposite sides of said support standard and pivotallyconnectedat fixed positions intermediate their ends to the outer'ends ofsaid fulcrum members, upper and lower collar means independentlyslidable vertically on said' support standard and pivotally connected tothe inner ends of said lever members, and a pair of tensile membersupport bars positioned on opposite sides of said support standardadapted to support a plurality of flexible tensile clothes hangingmembers suspended therebetween and universally connected near theirrespective ends to the outer ends of said lever members. i v

2. An extensible and collapsible clothes'hanging rack, comprising: acentral support standard, adapted to be mounted ina vertical position,two pairs of elongated rigid fulcrum members pivotally connected attheir inner ends to opposite sides of said support standard at a fixedposition near its upper end, two pairs of elongated lever memberspositioned on opposite sides of said support standard and pivotallyconnected at fixed positions intermediate their ends to the outer endsof said fulcrum members, upper and lower collar means independentlyslidable vertically on said support standard and pivotally connectedrespectively to the inner ends of one adjacent pair of said levermembers and .to the inner ends of the other adjacent pair of said levermembers, and a pair of tensile member support bars positioned onopposite sides of said support standard adapted to support a pluralityof flexibleitensile clothes hanging members suspended therebetween anduniversally connected near their respective ends to the outer ends ofone of the said lever members connected to the said upper collar meansand an adjacent one of the said lever members connected to the saidlower collar means and to the outer ends of the other adjacent pair ofsaid lever members.

3. An extensible and collapsible clothes hanging rack, comprising: acentral support standard, adapted to be mounted in a vertical position,two pairs of' elongated rigid fulcrum members pivotally connected attheir inner ends to opposite sides of said support standard at a fixedposition near its upper end, two pairs of elongated lever memberspositioned on opposite sides of said support I standard and pivotallyconnected at fixed positions intermediate their ends to the outer endsof said fulcrum members, upper and lower collar means independentlyslidable vertically on said support standard and pivotally connectedrespectively to .the inner ends of one nonadjacent pair of said levermembers and to the inner ends of the other non-adjacent pair of saidlever members, and a pair of tensile member support bars posi- 1 1tioned on opposite sides of said support standard adapted I to support aplurality of fiexible tensile clothes hanging members suspendedtherebetween and universally connected near their respective 'ends tothe outer ends of one of the said lever members connected to thesaid-upper collar means and an adjacentone of the said lever'meml bersconnected to the said lower collar means and to the outer endsoftheother adjacent pair-of said leversmembers.

4. An extensible and collapsible clothes hanging'rack' as defined inclaim 1, wherein said fulcrum-members are pivotally connected to saidsupport standard at a first set of points, lying in a plane,perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support standard,opposite ones of said points are displaced equidistant respectively onopposite sides of a first pairof vertical planes, coincident withsaidlongitudinal axis, opposite pairs of said lever members lie respectivelywithin said first pair of vertical planes, and opposite pairs of 'saidfulcrum members are pivotally connected respectively to said levermembers at a second set of points, displaced laterally of andon oppositesides of said lever members so that each of said fulcrum members lies ina vertical plane, coincident with respect to said-support standard toengage and secure said upper slidable collar meansinits lowest-positionon said supportstandard, andto engage and secure said lower slidablecollar means .in its highest position on said supportstandardfl p 7. Inan extensible and collapsible.clothes-hanging rack having a centralsupport standardand a pairtof tensile member support bars adapted tosupport a plurality of flexible tensile-clothes hanging memberssuspended there- 'between and in the extended position of the rack to bedisposed horizontally --in a spaced apart relationshipgon opposite sidesof said supportstandardand in the collapsed position of the rackto bedisposed vertically closely adjacent and parallel to-said supportstandard;

first means connectedto said {support standard for moving one end ofeach of said tensile member support-bars from said collapsed position-to.saidextended position and from said extended position to saidcollapsed" -position,

and secondmeans corinectedto .saidsupport standard for so moving theother: end of, each of:said-tensile r'nember support bars, tsaidfirst'andsecondmeans being operable independently of each other.

ReferencesCited in-thefil'eot this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 883,162Baecker -4 M r, 31, 1903 985,485 -Wil1ard Feb. 28, 1,250,833 Flanegi'n VDEC. 18, 1917 2,233,806 Bucknell, w 'Mar.:4, 1941 2,670,855 Pierie '.rMar. 2, 719.54 2;s0 2,579 Hagar Aug. 1.3, 1957 2,900,088 Clini Aug. ,16,1959 2,951,595 'Pierie Sept. 6, '1960

1. AN EXTENSIBLE AND COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES HANGING RACK, COMPRISING: ACENTRAL SUPPORT STANDARD, ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN A VERTICAL POSITION,TWO PAIRS OF ELONGATED RIGID FULCRUM MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ATTHEIR INNER ENDS TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SUPPORT STANDARD AT A FIXEDPOSITION NEAR ITS UPPER END, TWO PAIRS OF ELONGATED LEVER MEMBERSPOSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SUPPORT STANDARD AND PIVOTALLYCONNECTED AT FIXED POSITIONS INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS TO THE OUTER ENDSOF SAID FULCRUM MEMBERS, UPPER AND LOWER COLLAR MEANS INDEPENDENTLYSLIDABLE VERTICALLY ON SAID SUPPORT STANDARD AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOTHE INNER ENDS OF SAID LEVER MEMBERS, AND A PAIR OF TENSILE MEMBERSUPPORT BARS POSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SUPPORT STANDARDADAPTED TO SUPPORT A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE TENSILE CLOTHES HANGINGMEMBERS SUSPENDED THEREBETWEEN AND UNIVERSALLY CONNECTED NEAR THEIRRESPECTIVE ENDS TO THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID LEVER MEMBERS.